University celebrates Sustainability Week Oct. 15 – 23

The University of South Carolina will share new school colors of garnet, black and green during Sustainability Week, which runs Oct. 15 – 23 on the university’s campus.

The observance provides opportunities for faculty, staff and students and the community to learn how the university has emerged as a leader in sustainability and what they can do to help the university realize its “green-print” for the future. The university’s weeklong observance centers around National Sustainability Day on Oct. 21.

Sustainability Week will feature a series of events hosted by Green (West) Quad and the launching of its “green” Web site: www.sc.edu/green. The site will provide a central place for information on the university’s sustainability efforts to create greener campuses and be a catalyst for sustainability in South Carolina.

“Sustainability Week is an opportunity to learn about what is being done on campus -- and what still needs to be done -- in order to create a sustainable campus and society,” said Dr. David Whiteman, faculty principal of Green (West) Quad. “At the end of the week, the Earth Summit is a time to gather news idea and set our priorities for the future.”

Highlights will include Sustainability Day on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and the second annual Earth Summit Friday, Oct. 23.

Sustainability Day will feature a community-service project and a sustainability fair in front of the Russell House University Union.

From 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, students through the Community Service Intern Program, in conjunction with Green (West) Quad and Sustainable Midlands, will plant lupine and daylilies along the Rocky Branch Creek, near the intersection of Main and Whaley streets, to beautify and sustain that area. To participate, students must register online at http://greenquadcommunity.org/

The sustainability fair will feature campus and community organizations that have a sustainability focus. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., members of the university and greater community can learn about and get involved in the greening of the University of South Carolina. Participating student organizations include the Longboarding Club, Net Impact, Green (West) Quad and SAGE.